No. 11 Women's Soccer Hosts USC, Cal Poly This Week

This Week
The Broncos will remain at home through this weekend, hosting No. 23 USC and No. 21 Cal Poly. The Broncos have only faced the Women of Troy on three occasions and hold a slim 2-1 edge in the series. USC's victory came last season, a 1-0 win in Los Angeles. This season, USC is 3-3-2, with all three losses coming to top-25 opponents. Santa Clara is undefeated against Cal Poly, with a 10-0-2 advantage in the all-time series. The Mustangs will host San Diego before facing the Broncos and has only allowed one goal thus far this season. Cal Poly, at 8-0-0, is the second undefeated team Santa Clara is facing is as many weeks.

Live on the Internet
Santa Clara's entire home schedule returns to the Internet, as a live audio broadcast is available for a third season on www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. Additionally, Buck Shaw contests can be followed online with a live statistical tracker, also located on SCU's official athletic website. By logging on, fans receive real-time updated statistics direct from the official scoring computer, allowing users to listen to the audio broadcast and keep up with the statistics simultaneously. Ram Fletcher and SCU men's soccer alumni Mark Wojciechowski return as the voices of the Broncos.

Upcoming Promotions
The Athletic Department will celebrate "Welcome Back to SCU Night" on Friday as students are back on campus and will have completed their first week of classes. The night begins when fans walk through the gates, as the first 500 will receive a free gift from adidas. On Sunday, SCU will host "Santa Clara Family" and "Student Group" Day. Families can purchase a $25 package that includes four tickets, four hotdogs and four cokes, while student groups can fill up the stands.

Osborne Climbing Career Charts
Junior Leslie Osborne is steadily climbing both the Santa Clara and West Coast Conference recordbooks. The midfielder from Menomonee Falls, Wis., currently ranks ninth on the SCU career assists list with 31, and is tied for 11th on the league all-time listing. Add in 27 career goals and Osborne has 85 points in her two-plus seasons, good for ninth on the Broncos' career points list.

Zepeda a "Player to Watch" for M.A.C. Hermann TrophyVeronica Zepeda has been named to the "watch list" of players considered among the top candidates for the 2003 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top players in NCAA Division I soccer. The Riverside, Calif., native is a preseason All-America candidate, and opened the season against third-ranked UCLA with a goal. She currently leads the team with 10 points (3 goals, 4 assists).

The M.A.C.'s Hermann Trophy is college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy. Past recipients include former Broncos Mandy Clemens and Aly Wagner. Clemens won both the Hermann Trophy and MAC Player of the Year awards in 1999, while Wagner became the honoree to have the distinction of receiving the newly-unified award.

A Look Ahead: Broncos visit Stanford Classic
The Broncos will travel 20 miles up the peninsula to participate in the Stanford Classic in Palo Alto. Santa Clara will open the tournament against host Stanford on Friday night and then play TCU Sunday morning. The rivalry against the Cardinal dates back to 1980, with SCU holding a 14-9-5 advantage. The weekend will also mark the first match against the Horned Frogs in program history.

Among the Nation's Leaders
Santa Clara is currently ranked 14th in scoring offense, averaging 3.13 points per game.

In the WCC Statistics
Santa Clara leads the league in points per game (8.38), goals (25), goals per game (3.12) and corner kicks (5.63), while ranking second in shots (14.88), assists (17), assists per game (2.13) and saves (4.38). Individually, Leslie Osborne is ranked fourth in assists (4) and assists per game (0.5), fifth in points (10), sixth in points per game (1.25), seventh in shots (18), and 10th in goals (3). Marian Dalmy is ranked fourth in goals (4), fifth in points (10), and sixth in points per game (1.25) and goals per game (0.5).

Season/Match Tickets on Sale
Season and individual match tickets for Santa Clara University's nationally-recognized soccer teams are on sale through the Department of Athletics' official website www.SantaClaraBroncos.com, and the athletic ticket office at 408-554-4660, between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In conjunction with its exclusive Internet partner, Official College Sports Network, the athletic department has developed an online ticket application that provides fans with the ability to purchase season tickets, family plans, individual matches or an all-sports pass via the official athletic website. A men's and women's soccer season ticket package that includes the 17 home matches is available for the adult price of $65 each, while a family plan provides a family of five admission to each game for the low price of $100. Youth (12 and under) and senior (over 65-years-old) season tickets are also available for $30. Single games are priced at $7 for adults, $5 for youths and seniors and $2 for non-Ruff Riders SCU students as well as members of Bronco Kidz. Single match team passes are also available for $35.

Four Former Broncos Currently at World Cup
Four former Santa Clara standouts are representing the United States at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003. U.S. Women's National Team head coach April Heinrichs named Kylie Bivens, Brandi Chastain, Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner as four of the 20 players who are playing in their home country on women's soccer's grandest stage.

Bronco Bios: Megan Kakadelas
As a Junior in 2003: Started first seven contests at forward and has seen action in all eight... missed start against Notre Dame due to an equipment issue... has three goals and one assist for seven points... scored the team's third goal at San Jose State, on a breakaway... added another breakaway, at Virginia, for the early Bronco lead... scored a goal and an assist against Georgia...

Bronco Bios: Jessica Ballweg
As a Junior in 2003: Named to the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic and SCU adidas Classic All-Tournament Teams... has started all eight contests... played the first six in defense and moved into a holding midfielder position against Georgia and Notre Dame... has two assists on the season ... assisted on the team's fourth goal at San Jose State... assisted on breakaway goal at Virginia...

Bronco Bios: Micaela Esquivel
As a Sophomore in 2003: Has started all eight contests, splitting time between the midfield and defense... scored twice at San Jose State, the second on a steal in the penalty box... was issued a red card against Notre Dame...

Bronco Bios: Marian Dalmy
As a Freshman in 2003: Named to the SCU adidas Classic All-Tournament Teams... has started all eight contests... played the first six at forward and moved into the midfield against Georgia and Notre Dame... has four goals and two assists for 10 points... scored first collegiate goal at San Jose State in first-half action... added first assist in second period... scored against Pacific... had four shots on goal vs. the Tigers... tied match against Penn State with her score in 76th minute... slipped a pass through three Georgia defenders to assist on Broncos' third goal... added a score against Notre Dame...